Construction Questions

[LeavingTheCandy]

Sorry for the lack of intro, but I will do a summary of my project in a few days.

I have a two-story building I am putting on an historic site. There was a stone foundation there, which I resurrected and added block to it. Despite laser, etc. one side is appx. 1" higher than the other.

One side is tied right into the stone wall
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The other wide is built-up and sits on a lintel

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This is a birdseye view (almost) from on top the stone wall.
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Facing the wall, the left side is 1" higher than the left side. Where should I compensate for this?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[BooUrns!]

You could do a perimeter firring strip on top of the mudsill. Rip the boards (Or use layers of treated ply) to makeup the difference.

Unless it's a major abrubt shift, you'll barely notice it if you get within 1/2" difference.

 

[FunfDreisig]

.....I have a two-story building I am putting on an historic site. There was a stone foundation there, which I resurrected and added block to it. Despite laser, etc. one side is appx. 1" higher than the other. ....
Facing the wall, the left side is 1" higher than the left side. Where should I compensate for this?

Any help is appreciated!

The short answer is ASAP The sooner you get to a level perimeter surface the easier the rest of the build will go.

It's a little hard to tell but my guess is the problem is not just the one wall. If it were mine I'd shoot the walls and especially the four corners with a self leveling lase (e.g. a 5 point set up on a tripod in the center). I'd then work out where the problem is and isn't. For example, it maybe just one corner is high and only "got off" in the last few blocks closest to that corner.

In any case, your next step is probably to install beams/floor joists to support the 2nd story. If so, these can be shimmed to correct the discrepancies. but you need to know which ones and how much.

Funf Dreisig

 

[bop_pa]

I am by no means and expert, but I would think if you built up or layered on top of the sill plate til it was all level you would be fine. I would not start anything on top if it until they were all level. Also you need to address why this was off. Hopefully the ground is not sinking. Because if you get it level and it continues to sink, then you're wasting your money. Fix the problem, not just the corner.

 

[LeavingTheCandy]

Thanks for all of the great responses... let me first mention, I sure HOPE (and am pretty darned sure) that the building is not sinking. I went through pouring a wide and deep footer. I think the problem is when we joined the block to the stone walls on each side, I shot it with a laser to match the heights. My laser is not self-leveling, so a small error in that amount of distance would probably add up fast!

 

[kbs2244]

Shim the one end of the floor joists.
2 layers of 1/2 treated ply.
If you have any gaps at the corners use the hard drying Great Stuff.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Thanks for all of the great responses... let me first mention, I sure HOPE (and am pretty darned sure) that the building is not sinking. I went through pouring a wide and deep footer. I think the problem is when we joined the block to the stone walls on each side, I shot it with a laser to match the heights. My laser is not self-leveling, so a small error in that amount of distance would probably add up fast!

A quick story about errors adding up. One summer when I was layed off I went to work for a house builder. I was and am an accomplished do it yourselfer but in no way a pro. He put me and another new guy to set trusses on a small back porch roof, something like 10' x10' we were an inch and a half out of square in 10' we kept relaying it out, sure it was our mistake finally we called him over to check our work. After a couple of minutes of swearing and telling us we didn't know what we were doing he started measuring and sure enough our layout was right. The foundation was 1/4" out of square and by the time we got to the roof it was an 1 1/2 out. I couldn't believe how it added up. Good luck with your project, Mike

 

[FunfDreisig]

Thanks for all of the great responses... let me first mention, I sure HOPE (and am pretty darned sure) that the building is not sinking. I went through pouring a wide and deep footer. I think the problem is when we joined the block to the stone walls on each side, I shot it with a laser to match the heights. My laser is not self-leveling, so a small error in that amount of distance would probably add up fast!

The single most important tool I bought for building my garage was a 5 point self leveling laser. FWIW I already had two simple laser levels and hardly ever use them now, because of the problem of getting them level enough to be accurate. If fact, I'd use strings and a water level if I didn't have a self leveling laser.

BTW Despite having the forms set within 1/16", the slab guys managed to get one corner of the slab nearly 3/4" higher But when my wife and I added the rear stem wall (the back and part of 2 sides) we got it level to within a 1/16" over it's entire run 15', 42' and 6' by using the 5 point self leving laser. We took almost all of the error up in the first course. IOW before I sheathed the interior wal I could set that 5 point laser on a good tripod in the center of the garage and slowly spin it to see the perpendicular lasers just touch the top of every block in the stem wall

Funf Dreisig

 

[e-tek]

Can I ask the obvious question? Why did you retain the rock wall? I know you said it was a historical site, but from the overview shots I don't see much evidence of any other historic sites around it. Where you mandated to keep the rock wall - or just wanted to?
Thanks and good luck with the build!

 

[LeavingTheCandy]

Yes, very historic...my place is 1850's. However, not mandatad. I just wanted to.
The rest of the building will have building materials representative of the era too...wide-plank flooring, wood siding, etc.